Marcus Morris

New York Knicks: Who stood out in second preseason game against the Wizards?

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New York Knicks, Marcus Morris

After an impressive win over the Washington Wizards last Monday, the New York Knicks followed up their positive performance with a disheartening loss that exposed their lack of defensive prowess.

The New York Knicks still need to build on their improvements:

Falling 115-99 to Washington, the Knicks have plenty of work to do before being considered a quality team and worthy of contending for a playoff spot. Head coach David Fizdale wants to personify his team as a defensive unit, focused on locking down opposing scorers and using his players’ high work rate to put points on the board.

Players like rookie RJ Barrett fit this mold perfectly, as he will increase his work-rate to help supplement his deficiencies in other categories. Against the Wizards on Friday night, Barrett connected on 6-of-15  from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arch. He finished with a -13 rating and 15 points — another disappointing performance that we should become accustomed to in RJ’s first year in the NBA. It will take time for the rookie to find his groove and develop into a consistent scorer.

However, the night was tainted by weak defense for the Knicks.

“We stopped guarding the 3. We relaxed,” Fizdale said after Washington connected on 19 three-point baskets. “From Game 1 to Game 2, our closeouts were a nightmare.

“We have to be good defensively. I do think we have more scoring this year, but our first priority has to be the defensive end and taking that challenge.”

The only bright spot on the night was veteran Marcus Morris, who put up a noteworthy 21 points on a +6 performance. He went 8-of-13 from the field over 31 minutes, proving his worth on the offensive side of the ball. His efficiency regarding putting points on the board will be extremely beneficial in helping the Knicks overcome the 17-win benchmark set last season.

Morris and Julius Randle will both play influential roles in the season ahead, and while the latter is expected to be the focal point of the offense, Morris is more than capable of holding his own.

Why the New York Knicks will feature their veterans a ton during the preseason

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks enjoyed their first preseason game of the season on Monday night, beating the Washington Wizards 104-99. The starting lineup featured predominantly of veterans, specifically the free-agent signings this offseason.

Head coach David Fizdale is making the right decision my utilizing his vets early on, as ensuring they have solid chemistry to start the regular season is essential. They will be the focal point of the offense and defense, especially Julius Randle and Marcus Morris, two players who will likely be starters.

Fizdale did, however, play two of his three lottery picks off the bench (Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina) against the Wizards, which wasn’t much of a surprise considering their struggles last season.

Ntilikina will be the backup to Elfrid Payton as Dennis Smith Jr. heals from a lower back injury that bothered him during the 2018 season. Fizdale was excited about the potential of Payton as their newly signed point guard, stating:

“His competitiveness. He just has a serious competitive gene. He hates to lose. He’s never out of a possession, offensively and defensively,” Fizdale said, per the NY Daily News. “He’s always trying to figure out how he’s going to win the possession. It just stands out to see that on the court.”

If Smith Jr. wins the starting PG spot, Payton will be the No. 2 option, providing consistent defensive quality and a keen sense of ‘assisting his teammates. He’s also a capable scorer that will contribute in that fashion as well.

As for the 6-foot-9 Marcus Morris, Fizdale described how he planned to use his talents:

Small forward “is what he’s going to play more of this year. We’re going to take him back to when he first came into the league,” Fizdale said. “We like the idea of having size at that position… he has a skillset that allows him to play multiple positions.”

I anticipate both Morris and Kevin Knox will split time at the small forward position and rotate. Fizdale could also choose to play the hot-hand, and Knox is prepared to elevate his game after putting a significant amount of muscle on before the preseason.

There’s a lot to be excited about this upcoming season with the youth and veterans combining efforts. There seems to be a better sense of accountability brewing between the players.

Under looked parts from first New York Knicks preseason game

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New York Knicks

A lot of positives came out of the New York Knicks first preseason game.  The Knicks defeated the Washington Wizards handily, despite the score.

One part that appears to be swept under-the-rug is Julius Randle having 7 assists.  Randle appears to be a very underrated passer.  At times, he did try to get too fancy and had costly turnovers, overall.  But, Randle was able to draw attention then dish it with ease.  With this aggressive style of play, Randle should be able to become an above-average with how he stretches the floor, drawing defenders.

Another player that may be under looked, Wayne Ellington.  He played 22 minutes in his New York Knicks debut, adding 12 points.  Ellington was three-for-seven beyond the arc and was not shy to find his shot.  It was unclear what his role was going to be coming into the season, but Monday was a possible glimpse of him being a vital role player.  Ellington has great shooting form and will give the Knicks that sharp-shooter they need off the bench.

Quickly, as a team last season, the Knicks shot 34% from beyond the arc.  Monday, the team shot 42.9%.  Yes, it was one preseason game, but they could be on the right track with this group.

Lastly, the Knicks team chemistry was great.  The chemistry has been well documented throughout the summer thanks to social media.  The Knicks have been going for dinner, movies and working out together.  Everyone appears to be bonding, challenging each other and battling, which will only improve their play on the court.

The Knicks appear to be confident in one another and want everyone to succeed.  Players seem know where others are going to be after a short time playing together.  Again, one game.  But, imagine what this team would look like after months of playing with one another?  Could turn out better then people think.

New York Knicks: Did Dennis Smith Jr. just lose the starting point guard job?

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New York Knicks, Elfrid Payton

Before the start of the preseason, the consensus was that New York Knicks’ point guard Dennis Smith Jr. would earn the starting job. However, he picked up a lower back injury that has kept him out for the last week and forced him to miss the first preseason game against the Washington Wizards. That certainly won’t help his development and aid in his quest to earn a starting role.

Who did the New York Knicks trot out onto the court against Washington?

Veteran point guard Elfrid Payton started against the Wizards, earning five points, five assists, and two rebounds over 25.1 minutes. He was not a force on the offensive side of the ball, but the Knicks and head coach David Fizdale seem to be focusing on players like Marcus Morris, RJ Barrett, and Julius Randle.

“He set the tone for the game on the ball and with his pace. He got a lot of people involved, kept us organized,” Fizdale said. “Steady and tough.”

Payton’s primary purpose was to feed them the ball and play solid defense, two things that he is more than capable of doing. Fizdale will likely use several different lineups throughout the preseason to test combinations and get player’s live-action minutes.

We may see a different lineup at the start of the regular season than we did against the Wizards on Monday night. For the first game, though, Fiz went with Payton at point guard, RJ Barrett at shooting guard, Julius Randle at power forward, Marcus Morris at small forward, and Mitchell Robinson at center.

Despite Smith Jr.’s absence, Payton earned the start because of his training camp performance. That is not to say that Smith wouldn’t have been the starter as he likely would’ve been, but Elfrid is showing something different and potentially more valuable.

While the veteran free-agent signing had a solid game, backup Frank Ntilikina finished with nine points, five rebounds, and three assists in 23 minutes. Both seemed capable in their ways, but the veteran in Payton spread the floor and set the tone for the game in the Knicks victory.

Barrett Shines, Morris ejected; New York Knicks first preseason game

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The New York Knicks opened the preseason in Washington last night.  The Knicks were without their, possible, starting point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who is resting his strained back.

The injury to Smith Jr. is nothing serious, just precautionary measures.  This opens up time for Frank Ntilikina and Elfrid Payton to showcase their skills and heat up the battle for point guard minutes.

The Knicks, led by RJ Barrett and Marcus Morris with 17 points each, defeated the Wizards 104-99.

However, Morris was ejected for swinging his elbows then hitting Justin Anderson on the head with the basketball.  In his post-game interview, Morris said, “We not taking no sh*t.”  Morris’ actions were uncalled for, but the fact that the Knicks have an enforcer is nice, in a way.  It’s the New York Knicks turn to fight back.

Barrett was a bright spot throughout the entire game for the Knicks.  He was shut down Bradley Beal in the first half, but struggled offensively.  The second half was when Barrett settled in.   His teammates kept feeding him the ball, as Barrett had the hot hand in the second half.  He was aggressive and knocking down shots.  Barrett was 6-13 from the field, 46%.

The Knicks leader, Julius Randle had a strong Knicks debut.  Randle looked strong and quick when taking the ball down-low.  At times, he got a little too fancy with the passes, but was able to make provide solid assists to his teammates.

Mitchell Robinson was every where in the first half.  Blocking shots, rebounding, stretching the floor and dunking.  He also did a fine job at not fouling as much.  Of course, he had some dumb cheap fouls in the second half, but nothing crazy.

Frank Ntilikina played very well, despite a not so good stat line.  The main thing was Ntilikina was aggressive and not afraid to drive and take his shot.  This version is Ntilikina is a lot better than last season, coming off that high of performing well for France in the FIBA World Cup.  If he can perfect, the mid-range jumper, it can be deadly.

Taj Gibson provided good veteran leadership on the floor and was able to find his stroke from beyond the arc. Wayne Ellington is sharp-shooter with great form and a great addition to the Knicks.

Despite the score, the Knicks were up by double-digits pretty much the whole game.  The bench provided a good spark to the team and is very deep.

Overall, this Knicks team is very enjoyable and a team the New York could fall in love with.  Yes, it was one preseason game, but this team is different.  A lot of talent on the roster to make some noise in the East if they play to their potential.  There’s a good mix of young, veteran presence and it could work.  The future seems to be bright.

New York Knicks: Analyzing the first preseason victory over the Wizards

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New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

The New York Knicks opened up the preseason with a dominant offensive performance, putting up 104 points on the backs of Marcus Morris, RJ Barrett, and Taj Gibson. Morris managed to get ejected late in the game, but the Knicks still held on and enjoyed a positive start to their preseason against the Washington Wizards.

Of course, there were ups and downs in regards to the young players and veterans on the team. Third overall pick RJ Barrett struggled to begin the game, missing his first three attempts from beyond the arc. He finished 6-13 on field goals, 2-6 from three-point land, and scored 17 points with three assists.

One of the apparent positive trends for the Knicks was their ball movement and assist totals. Julius Randle earned seven assists on the night, an unlikely statistic considering his past averages.

Gibson, on the other hand, finished with five field goals made and two 3-pointers on four attempts. He totaled 16 points and accounted for 17 total rebounds on the night. The Knicks bench showed fantastic potential and the quality to fill in admirably for starting players.

New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale chooses the vets:

David Fizdale elected to sit several of his youth players in favor of veterans to start the preseason. This was a positive move considering the lack of chemistry the veterans currently have with one another.

Ensuring options like Marcus Morris and Julius Randle start the season with a bit of playing time under their belts is a great thing and will help them succeed during the regular season. The two combined for 28 total points and a plus-one turnover ratio. They also accounted for 26 total rebounds and nine assists.

Point guard Elfrid Payton also earned 25 minutes of action due to the injury picked up by Dennis Smith Jr. Payton receiving preseason playing time makes the starting point guard position battle a little bit more interesting.

New York Knicks suffer preseason blow to point guard position

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New York Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr.

One of the more exciting position battles for the New York Knicks this off-season will be at the point guard spot. The likely winner of the battle will be Dennis Smith Jr., but he sat out Saturday’s practice due to a lower strain back, according to SNY’s in Bagley.

The injury to the point guard is no surprise, as he also dealt with something similar during the 2018-19 season, but he returned for the final few games. This issue will likely hold Smith out of Monday’s preseason opener against the Washington Wizards, with Veteran signing Elfrid Payton earning the start with Frank Ntilikina backing him up.

Smith Jr. is an extremely talented and athletic point guard, but injuries have derailed his career and held his development back at times. This is another reason that the Knicks will leave the spot open for interpretation and allow others to compete for the starting job.

Could Dennis Smith Jr.’s injury affect the New York Knicks starting lineup for the regular season?

Smith, who was brought over in the trade that sent Kristaps Porziņģis to the Dallas Mavericks last season, was the expected starter for the regular season this year. The injury certainly holds him back, but we shouldn’t rule him out as the starting option just yet. While the damage is something he has dealt with in the past, the timetable for his return has yet to be solidified.

Where does the remainder of the starting lineup stand?

With numerous veterans joining the team, the youth players won’t be given automatic starting positions the season. Marcus Morris projects to start over Kevin Knox, and Julius Randle will also steal minutes away from other players, potentially including RJ Barrett. However, starting Barrett would be in their best interest, considering he is the future of the team, and providing him with essential experience will help his development and progression.

Big man Mitchell Robinson will earn significant playing time right off the bat, mainly due to his potential and the optimism he provided last season on defense.

New York Knicks: Marcus Morris is Part of The New Identity Plan

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New York Knicks, Julius Randle, Marcus Morris

New York Knicks forward Marcus Morris‘s offseason signing was definitely for the culture. Toughness and grit defensively will be the New York Knicks identity. Whoever doesn’t want to play defense will definitely ride the bench. You keep what you kill especially on defense. That’s the kind of culture the Knicks are embarking on with Fizdale at the helm.

Marcus Morris Sr. is part of the new identity plan. During day three of Knicks training camp, Marcus Morris states the following to a pool of reporters after practice:

“Old school Knicks. Protect the Garden. You know my biggest thing is no one’s coming in there and disrespecting us”. You’re gonna come in there and get a hard-fought game. The better team is going to win, but we’re not tolerating no disrespect and nobody is coming in there and thinking it’s going to be easy. That’s first and foremost and I think — as a matter of fact, I know we got the guys who are going to stand and fight every night.”


Marcus Morris Sr. And the Knicks are a perfect match, especially when it comes to toughening the young talented nucleus of players the Knicks possess. Competitiveness and grit will rub off from not only Morris, but also from Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, Elfrid Payton, and Julius Randle.

Marcus Morris averaged 13.9-points and 6.1-rebounds per game last season as a Celtic. The North Philadelphia native will look to start and make an immediate impact for the New York Knicks in a wide-open Eastern Conference this season.

Overall, the New York Knicks are stacked with versatile forwards unlike what ESPN tried to portray. This team is built for pressure defense and a physical offense that exploits mismatches. Fast uptempo play on both ends will help maximize the total depth of the Knicks roster which will increase their opportunities for more victories this season.

Toughness for the New York Knicks is trying to make a comeback

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New York Knicks, Marcus Morris

The New York Knicks are looking to bring the “Old school” rough and tough mentality back.  This type of attitude and play has been severely lacking in the organization for some time now.

Newly acquired Marcus Morris is looking to bring that mentality back.  That should be music to the ears of Knicks fans.  Morris told SNY, “Old school Knicks.  Protect the Garden. My biggest thing is no one’s coming in there and disrespecting us.”

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again.  Morris is that type of player that you hate to play against, but love when he is on your team.

Morris is a bruiser and the perfect Knick.  He is down to protect and defend his teammates at all cost.  We’ve seen it with his play throughout the years and he does not back down.  Morris might be getting older, but the fire is still there.

The Knicks have not had this type of player, with that fire and toughness, since Rasheed Wallace?  Wallace did not play that much for the Knicks, but just his presence gave the team that attitude.

Everyone knows about the 1990s New York Knicks.  Someone came in the paint, they were getting hard fouls.  This Knicks team isn’t going to be like that because times have changed, but they aren’t going down easy.

The Knicks have seemed to be disrespected and bullied in the Garden for years.  Well, there was that one time Enes Kanter defended Frank Ntilikina against LeBron James, but that’s it.

But, with Morris in uniform, that will not be the case.  “Every time I’m on the court it’s bully ball,” Morris said.

He’ll also have a partner-in-crime in Bobby Portis.  Portis, too, does not shy away from contact.  He’s another player that can help bring back some toughness for the Knicks.

“I think we got the guys.  As a matter of fact, I know we got the guys that’s gunna stand up and fight every night”, Morris also added.  For once, fans might believe all the talk from these players.  Morris and Portis have that type of reputation.  They have to go out there and show the fans “Old school” Knicks basketball.

New York Knicks: What’s the catalyst for success during the 2019-20 season?

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New York Knicks, Julius Randle, Marcus Morris

The New York Knicks lacked a fundamental necessity for every team last season — consistent veteran players that have bought into the system.

Tim Hardaway Jr. was a prayer from the beginning, and the only veteran that helped the development of the rookies was DeAndre Jordan, a player who the Knicks tried to re-sign. With the loss of his talents, the Knicks went out and spent their available cap on tier-2/3 free agents.

Options such as Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, Wayne Ellington, Bobby Portis, and Reggie Bullock now represent the experienced group who will inevitably be expected to help the youngsters develop. The catalyst for success this upcoming season is ultimately how influential the veterans can be.

Randle, coming off his best offensive season with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The Knicks needed a premium threat to help elevate the play of the entire team — his dedication to success was required, and he will be a massive help to the progression of players like Kevin Knox and RJ Barrett.

The former Pelican has already begun attacking the lack of chemistry factor for the New York Knicks:

“It was amazing,’’ Randle said of team workouts several weeks ago. “Playing 2-on-2, 3-on-3. We got a lot of new guys — we signed seven, we got two rookies RJ [Barrett] and Iggy [Brazdeikis]. It’s important for us to get to know each other, spend time together on the court before training camp starts.”

 

“There’s a lot of new pieces. Everyone’s going to be trying to figure out their role. Coach [David Fizdale] is going to do a great job of helping us through that. If we want to be a good team and have a chance, we have to jump-start that process ourselves.”

Ball movement will be a focal point for the Knicks this season, according to head coach, David Fizdale. Rookie RJ Barrett is a sneaky-good passer, and Randle also will look to develop his game to help in that category. He averaged 3.1 assists per game last season, the second-highest amount in his career.

However, the responsibilities won’t only land on the shoulders of Randle. Marcus Morris is another player prepared to protect his new home.

“Old school Knicks. Protect the Garden. My biggest thing is no one’s coming in there and disrespecting us,” Morris said Thursday. “If anything, if you come in here you’re going to get a hard-fought game. The better team going to win but we’re not tolerating no disrespect and no one coming in here thinking it’s going to be easy. That’s the first and foremost.”

The Knicks seem to be in a much better place just one offseason after winning a dismal 17 games. Hopefully, the influence of veterans can help them develop into a competitive team.